EMBATTLED CLASSIC EMPIRE IS EARLY 4-1 FAVORITE FOR KENTUCKY DERBY

After he endured hoof and back injuries and a reluctance to train, things are looking up for Classic Empire.

The bay colt was made the early 4-1 favorite for the Kentucky Derby on Wednesday, with just four of the 20 horses listed at single digits in a wide-open race.

Classic Empire was idle for three months after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and being named 2-year-old champion last year. He made his 3-year-old debut with a third-place finish in the Holy Bull Stakes in February. Then came two more months off, and twice during that time, the colt didn’t want to train.

“It’s been a crazy road, but we’re right where we want to be,” trainer Mark Casse said.

Classic Empire restored Casse’s confidence in him by delivering a half-length victory in the Arkansas Derby in mid-April.

“With the average horse you couldn’t do what we have done,” Casse said. “You need so many things to go right and the good news with this horse is he’s so talented he can overcome a lot.”

Classic Empire will break from the No. 14 post on Saturday. Just two horses have won the Derby from there. The last was Carry Back in 1961.

Classic Empire’s sire, Pioneerof the Nile, finished second in the 2009 Derby. “We couldn’t be in a better place right now,” Casse said.

Recent history is on Classic Empire’s side, too. The favorite has won the Derby each of the last four years. It’s the longest such streak since the 1970s.

Always Dreaming and McCraken, a three-time winner at Churchill Downs, are co-second choices at 5-1.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Always Dreaming drew the No. 5 post, which has produced nine Derby winners, most recently California Chrome in 2014. Blue Grass Stakes winner McCraken will break from the No. 15 hole. The last of five winners from there was Triple Crown champion American Pharoah two years ago.